Box-making machine



(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet I.

M. E. BRIGHAM. BOX MAKING MACHINE.

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M. E. BRIGHAM. BOX MAKING MACHINE.

N o. 424,955. PatenteaApr. a, 1890. l

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(NQ Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

M. BQBRIGH-AM. BOX MAKING MACHINE-l N0.`424,953. Patented Apl 8, 1890.

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M. E. BRIGHAM,

BOX MAKING MACHINE.

No. 424,953. Patented Apr. 8, 1890.

UNITED STnTns PATENT Duinen.

MARTIN E. BRIGHAM, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

BOX-MAKING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 424,953, dated April 8,1890.

Application filed October 9, 1888- Serial No. 287,682. (No model.)

T @ZZ whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, MARTIN E. BRIGHAM, of the city and county ofPhiladelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented an Improvement inBox-Making Machines, of Which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to machines for making boxes; and it consists ofcertain improvements, Which are fully set forth in the followingspecification and shown in the drawings f which accompany it and form apartthereof.

More particularly my invention is intended for forming boxes of acylindricalshape out of card-board or silnilar material, and by theimprovements herein set ont these boxes are constructed with greatrapidity and completeness in all particulars. The card-boardis fed to aformer, Where it is rolled into a cylindrical shape, and by staplingmechanism the edges of this tube are secured together. This tube is thenpushed off or removed from the former (which immediately operates toconstruct another similar tube) and is supplied with abottoin, Which isglued to the tube, forming a completed box. These operations areperformed continuously and With great rapidity, so that my improvedmachine is capable of a very large output in a limited time. By staplingthe side edges of the tube a very firm box is obtained and one that ismuch less liable than a box with a pasted or glued seam to becomeloosened.

One of the great advantages of my improvements lies in the fact that theoperations of forming, seaming, and capping are all performedautomatically upon the same machine Without any interruption or delay.The mechanisms by Which these different operations are performed are soconnected with each other as to operate in perfect accord as to time, sothat each successive operation is commenced immediately upon thecompletion of the preceding one, and While one box is being cappedanother tube is being formed and stapled, and the work is neverinterrupted.

In the drawings, Figure l is a front elevation of my improved box-makingmachine. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same With the stapling mechanismremoved. Fig. 3 is a crosssectional view through the line @c of Fig. 2.Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view, on an enlarged scale, of thetube-forming cylinder.

yvices.

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view through the line y y of Fig. 4. Fig. 6is a view in detail, 011 an enlarged scale, of the stapling mechanismand holding devices. Fig. 7 isa sectional vieW`,"-on an enlarged scale,of the bottom-applying mechanism. Fig. S is a cross-sectional View ofthe bottom-feeding tube on the linez e of Fig. '7. Fig. S) is a frontview, on an enlarged scale, of the tube-holding mechanism. Fig. l0 is aplan view of the Wire-feeding de- Fig. ll is a perspective View of a boXmade by my improved machine; and Fig. l2 is a side elevation of aportionof the stapling devices, illustrating the operation of the staple-forming blocks.

A is the main frame or body of the machine.

B is a forming-oylin der for making the cardboard tubes, and has aspring-head C loosely journaled thereto upon a bearing c, so that thetube-forming cylinder B may rotate Without carrying With it thespring-head C. Arranged close to the spring-head C are the holders D D,guided in. the frame A and adapted to be brought toward each other bymeans of cams d to clamp the card-board tube supported up'on thespring-head O.

The s prin g-head O is loosely journaled upon the bearing c, so that thecard-board tube may be held motionless thereon While the cylinder B isrotating to form another tube. The cams d are connected by links D Withthe lever D2, which is pivoted at E with the se ment F., This segment Fis connected to an extension f of the eccentric G, which is operated bythe shaft H. Through the eccentric G and segment F the lever D2 isoperated, and by it, through the links D, the cams d force the holders DD toward each other. A spring CZ keeps the upper of the holders normallyraised. The shaft Il is connected by gearing 77. with the main shaft II,which is rotated by the driving-wheel H2.

The tube-forming cylinder B is provided With a shaft B3, which carries agear-Wheeler, whereby, in the manner hereinafter described, anintermittent revolution is imparted to the cylinder B. Pivoted to thecylinder B is a gripping-jaw b, to which is attached an operating linkor ring B', Which fits in a hole formed in the cylinder and is freel tomove therein. A portion of the tube-forming cyl- IOO inder is eut awayto receive the gripping-jaw l) and present an even surface. Passingthrough the shaft i f and into the cylinder ll is a rod l, adapted toreciprocate therein. The end of this rod is tapered or conical-shaped at1T and extends through the ring l), which is so Suspended from thegripping-jaw l) that when the rod l is projected forward the tapeled orpointed end i, coming in contact with the ring l), forces it down, andthereby depresses the gripping-jaw Z). The rod I is preferably providedwith a button upon its end to prevent it being withdrawn 1"; rom thering B and to guide the end of the rod beyond the ring. rl`hc gripping-jaw l) is raised or opened to release the completed tube after the rod. Iis reciprocated back by means of a spring lii" within the hole or recessof the cylinder ll acting upon the ring or link '3'. The reciprocationof the rod I te actuate the gripping-jaw is accomplished by means ol thepivoted lever I' and the rod l2, the lat-ter ot' which is caused toreciprocateintermittently in the slide `[2 by means of a cam l, carriedby the shaft ll. A spring i draws` the rod l"a and its connections backinto normal position -after it has been operated by the cam li.

J is a stripper surrounding the tube-forming cylinder B, with a spacebetween it and the cylinder to receive the card-board tube, and havingan open space at the top to expose the lapped edges ot thecard-bestial.. The end of this stripper preferably does not extend tothe end of the cylinder l5, but leaves a circular rim B2, about whichthe edge as? of the card-board tube is exposed to receive as it isrotated glue or paste from the tube M. A valve nzy may be used tocontrol the iiow ot glue from this tube. Secured to the other end ot thestripper J are guide-rodsej. Pivotcd to these guide-rods is the lever J,which is in turn pivotcd to the rod J2. The rod J2 is caused. toreciprocate in the slideje by the cam J3, carried by the shaft ll,whereby an intermittent reciprocation is imparted to the stripper J. Aspringjr draws the rod .l2 and its connections back to normal positionafter actuation by the cam J3.

K are feeding-rollers mounted ina standard and geared together, betweenwhich the cardboard U is fed to the cylinder l. 'lhesc rollers areprovided with a cutter 7i: to cut the card-board into the properlengths. rlhe diametcrof the feeding-rollers Kis preferably slightlylarger than that of the tube-forming cylinder l, so that each rotationof the feeding-rollers K will cut the exaetlength of cardboard required,including lappedjoint ol' boxeylinder; but it is apparent that the sameresult might be accomplished by other means, as by causing thc rollers KK and the cylinder B to rotate atditerent relative speeds or by the useof additional cutters 7c.

L is a guide for the card-board, preferably having a downwardly-curvcdedge to guide the card-board to the tube-forming cylinder, where it isclamped by the gri ppi n g-j aw o and rolled into the tube. rlhccard-board is led. to the cylinder after it has been cut by means of theplate L', pivotcd on its sides to the guide L, terminating in a curvedguide l'or directing the card under the jaw of the tube-formingcylinder. The card-board L2, fed from the rollers K K upon the guide L,comes in contact with the guide-plate L', and as it is fed onward forcesthe guide-plate up, as shown in Fig. A spring Z limits the amount thisguide-plate L maybe forced up or raised by the card-board, and acts toforce the card `forward when the jaw is open to receive it.

`Vhen the card-board is cut, the jaw l) is open to receive the card, andas the tension u pon the gu ide-plate L is decreased the spring Z forcesthe plate down, pushing the edge of the card-bmrrd forward between thecurved edge I of the guide Lto the tube-forming cylinder, where it isseized by the gripping-jaw t) and rolled into the tube X. I prefer thismechanism for feeding the card-hoard at'ter it has been cut to theforming-cylinder; but it is apparent that any other el'licient mechanismmight be substituted therefor without departing from the principles otmy invention.

K is a gear-wheel meshing with one ot' the feeding-rollers K and `withthe gear-wheel K2, which is journaled in the trame of the machine.

N is a gear-wheel similar to the wheel K2, also journaled in the frameA. rThe wheel N is geared to the wheel n. on the shaft-.13, and therebythe rotation is imparted to the tubeforming cylinder. Upon the sides ofthe wheels N and K2 are a series ot projections N, arranged at regularintervals.

t) O are two arms pivoted to an extension upon the cam-slide l" andadapted to engage with the )rojections N upon the wheels N and K2.Springs o prevent the arms O from falling, while allowing them to bedepressed. The cam-slide l works in guides in the frame A and isprovided with an opening l, in which the cam l, ealried by the wheel l,works to cause an intermittent to-and-t'ro reeiprocation ol' thecam-slide l. The arms O (J, being carried by this slide l?, engagealternately with the projections N on the wheel N and those on the wheelK2, imparting intermittent rotations to these wheels alternately andthrough them to thc-tube-lorming cylinder l and the feeding-rollers K K.The wheel l and .its cam is carried by thc shaft] l.

lt isthc slapling mechanism,supported upon the frame A immediately abovethe tubeforming cylinder l. 'lhese stapling devices, as shown, consistof the hammers r and stapletormcrs Arg, which are respectively connectedto operate in unison. The hammers 1 are provided with a roller yr andthe staple-formers with a roller lr.

R is a cam journaled in the frame A and adapted to come in contact withthe roller fr to operate the hammers r.

R53 is a cam also journaled in the frame A ICO TIO

cured to it.

- in Fig. 11.

and adapted to operate the staple-formers T2 through the rollers T2.

W is a ratchet-wheel secured to the cams R and R2. This ratchet-wheel isoperated by v a pawl W, carried by the arm R2, pivoted to the lever D2,and thereby operated by the eccentric G. When this arm R3 moves forward,it carries the pawl W forward, engaging with the teeth of theratchet-wheel WV. Then, moving backward through the operation of theeccentric G, it rotates the ratchet-wheel, and thereby the cams R andR2, which are se- Springs T5 draw-the hammers and staple-formers back toa raised position. Blocks T4 are located under the hammers during theoperation of the staple-formers, and over which the wires V are fed. Thestapleformers press the wire over these blocks in descending, cuttingand forming itinto staples. Vhen the hammers T descend, these blocks T4are drawn out of the way in the well-known manner, and may be made toreturn again to position after the hammers ascend.

The particular construction of the stapling device is immaterial, andthe details thereof form no part of the present invention.

I prefer to operate the blocks T4 in the manner shown in Fig. 12, inwhich the blocks are supportedin guides R2, secured to or made a part ofthe main frame A and normally pressed forward by springs T6. The frontedges of these blocks are beveled, and the staple-formers T2 areconstructed with a beveled portion also, which, coming in contact withthe beveled edges ofthe blocks T4 after the staple has been formed,pushes the blocks out of the way for the operation of the hammers T. When the staple-formers T2 and hammers T6 are lifted, the springs T( againpress the 4blocks T4 forward into position for the formation of newstaples.

The forming-cylinder B is provided with curved depressions b at theplace where the edges of the tu'be lap, whereby the ends of the staplesc: may be forced through the lapped edges of the tube and doubled over,as shown The wire V is fed under the stapling devices from spools Y oneach side by feed-rollers Y. (See Fig. l0.) These feedrollers arecarried on the main frame or frame of the stapling device and. areoperated through the reciprocations of the stripper or sleeve J byzarmsY pivoted to the ends of a link Y2, which is connected by a pivoted linkY3 with the slide J4, carried by the guide-rods j. The feeding-wheels Yare provided with ratchetsy, with which pawlsvupon the arms Y engage toturn said guide-wheels and feed the wire under the stapling mechanism.By the forward reciprocation of the stripper J one set of feed-wheels Yis operated, and by the backward reciprocation the other setreceivesmotion.

S is the bottom-applying holder, consisting of a cylinder provided withan opening s to receive the bottoms X2, which are fed thereto, in themanner hereinafter described, from the feeding-tube T. This cylinder isprovided with a rack s', the teeth of which engage with those of thesegment F, whereby the bottomapplying holder S is reciprocated.

S2 is a plunger within the holder S, adapted to push the bottoms X2 uponthe tubes X while in the custody of the holders D when the holder S isprojected forward.

S3 is an arm connecting the plunger S2 with the lever D2, whereby it isoperated.

T is a feeding-tube to contain the box-bottoms X2. By means of a stoptthcse bottoms are allowed to drop one at a time into thebottom-applying cylinder S. The stop t consists of two pins extendingthrough the feeding-tube T in the path of the bottoms, and so arrangedthat when the one is withdrawn to allow a bottom to fall the other isinserted to prevent the other bottoms from falling also. This stop toperates synchronously with the bottom-applying holder S.

T2 is a rod provided with a nut T4 at its end.

T3 is an upright secured to the plunger S2, in which the rod T works, sothat when the plunger S2 is withdrawn from the cylinder orbottom-applyin g holder S the upright T2, coming in contact with the nutT4, pushes back the rod T and withdraws the lower pin of the stop t,allowing a bottom X2 to drop through the aperture S.

T is a spring to reset the stop t.

' Q is a blowpipe connected with a fan or blower q and located betweenthe holders D D and bottom-applying holder S, by which the boxes whencompleted are blown out of the way of the mechanism.

U are screws provided on their ends with pieces of rawhide or similarmaterial u, adapted to be' brought in contact with the wheels N and K2to create a friction and prevent them accidentally rotating too far orin the wrong direction. Any other friction-creating device may be used.

The operation of thelmachine is as follows: The cardboard L2 is fed froma roll to the feeding-rollers K and thence to the guide L, lifting theguide-plate L in the manner heretofore described. When the card-board iscut, the plate L descends, pushing the edge of the paper between theguide end Z to the tube-forming cylinder B, which is started in rotationby the movement of the cam-slide P, carrying the arm O, which operatesthe wheel N, geared to the gear-wheel Tt. Simultaneously the rod I2 isoperated by the cam 12 and the rod I is projected forward, operating thegripping-jaw b in the manner described heretofore. The forming-cylinder,rotating, rolls the card-board into a tube X under the stripper J,leaving the edge x2 eX- posed, which during rotation receives the glueor paste from the tube M. At the instant the tube X has been rolled thearm R3 turns the ratchetNV, bringing into operation the staplingmechanism. The cam J3. then operates the rod J2, and thereby projectsthe IOD IZO

stripper J forward, which carries the stapled tube forward upon thespring-head C, and the holders D D are at the same time operated by therods D and cams d to hold the tube when the bottom-applying holder S ismoved forward and the piston ,S2 forces the bottom X upon the glued edge.r2 of the tube. The bottomapplying holder then moves back, the holdersD D release the box, and it is blown out of the way by the tube Q, andthe operation continues as before, all of the parts of the differentmechanism being so timed by their relative connections with each otheras to perform their functions continuously and wit-hout anyinterruption. \Vhile the bottom is being applied to one tube anothertube is being formed on the rotating former.

Having now described my invention, whatI claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Iatent, is-

l. In a box-making machine, the combination of a tube-former, a feedingdevice for feeding the card-board to the former, a stapling mechanismfor securing the edges of the card-board forming the tube together, anda stripper to push the stapled tube from the former.

2. In a box-making machine, the combination of a tube-former, a staplingmechanism to secure the edges of the card-board forming the tubetogether, a holder for holding' the stapled tube for the application ofthe bottom, and a stripper to push the stapled tube from the former tothe holder.

3. In a box-making machine, the combination of a tube-for1ner,a feeding'device for feeding the card-board to the former, a stapling mechanismfor securing the edges of the card-board forming the tube together, abottom-feeding mechanism to feed the bottoms one at a time, abottom-applying holder, power devices, substantially as set forth, tomove the bottom-applying holder to or from the tube-former, a stripperto push the stapled tube from off the former, and holders forsupportingthe tube during the application of the bottom.

4. In a box-making machine, the combination of a tube-former, a feedingdevice for feeding the card-board to the former, a stapling mechanismfor securing the edges of the card-board forming the tube together, abottom-feeding mechanism to feed the bottoms one at a time, a bottomapplying holder, power devices, substantially as set forth, to move thebottom-applying holder to or from the tube-former, a stripper to pushthe stapled tube from olf the former, holders for supporting the tueAduring the application of the bottom, power mechanism to rotate thecylinder-former, reciprocate the stripper, and operate the holders to orfrom each other, and connecting timing devices between said former,stripper, holders, and bottom-applyin g holder, wherebythey operate inunison and synchronously.

5. In a box-making machine, the combination, with a rotary former toform a tube from a strip of card-board, of feeding-rollers to feed thecard-board to said former, a fixed guide to guide the card-board fromsaid feeding-rollers to the former, and a pivoted guideplate adapted toact in connection therewith to assist the feeding' of the card-board tothe former.

G. In a box-making machine, the combination of a tube-former with astaple-driving mechanism arranged close to the surface of the former, soas to cause the staples to pass through the lapped edges of the cylinderon the former, connecting power mechanism for driving the staples whenthe former is stat-ionary, and a stripper for discharging' the stapledtubes from off the former.

7. In a box-making machine, the combination of a rotating former to forma tube of card-board, a pair of gripping-holders arranged in front ofsaid former, a stripper to push the tube from said former between saidholders, and devices to move said `holders towardrcach other to grip thecard-board tube.

8. The combination of a pair of holders for the cylinder or tube with ahollow applying holder having an aperture for receiving a box-bottom, aplunger for pushing the boxbottom toward the open end of thebottomapplying holder, power mechanism to simultaneously reciprocateboth the bottom-applying holder and plunger to or from thecylinder-holders, a betteln-feeding tube, and a stop in saidbottom-feeding tube actuated by the plunger to feed the bottoms one at atime to the bottom-applying holder.

9. In a box-making machine, the combination of a rotary former forforming a tube of card-board, having a gripping-jaw, feeding and cuttingrolls to feed said card-board toward the former and eut it into lengths,a guide for the card-board between the feedingrolls and the former, apivoted, guide and feeding plate to feed the card-board when cnt to thegripping-jaw of the former, and power mechanism to intermittently andalternately rotate said former and feeding and cutting rolls.

10. The combination of the tube-former li, feeding-rolls K K,gear-wheels N and K2, gearing connecting said gear-wheels N and K2 withthetnbe-former and feeding-rolls, respectively, projections N on saidwheels N and K2, cam P2, and cam-slide 3', operated thereby and carryingarms O, adapted to engage with the projections N alternately upon thewheels N and K2 to impart an intermittent and alternate rotationthereto.

ll. The combination of the rotating tube or cylinder former having aspring-head loosely j ournaled thereto, stapling mechanism. to securethe lapped edges of the card-board tube or cylinder, a stripper to pushthe stapled tube from the former upon said spring-head,

IIO

and mechanism, substantially as described, to project said stripperforward when the tube is stapled.

12. The combination of the rotating tube or cylinder former having aspring-head loosely journaled thereto, stapling mechanism to secure thelapped edges of the card-board tube or cylinder, a stripper to push thestapled tube from the former upon said spring-head, holders to supportthe tube while upon said spring-head, and mechanism, substantially asdescribed, to project said stripper forward when the tube is stapled.

13. The combination of the rotary tube or cylinder former B, staplingmechanism to secure the lapped edges of the card-board tube together,stripper J, guide-rods j, secured thereto, cam J 2, and connections withsaid guide-rods j, operated by the cam J 2, to intermittently projectthe stripper to remove the stapled tube from the former B.

14. The combination of a rotary former for forming a tube of card-board,staplin g devices for securing the edges of the card-board together, astripper to push the card-board tube from the former, holders to supportthe tube when pushed from the former, and cam m echanism to operate saidholders synchronously with the stripper. l

15. The combination of a rotary former for 'forming a tube ofcard-board, stapling devices for securing the edges of the cardboardtogether, a stripper to push the card-board tube from the former,holders to-supportl the tube when pushed from .the former, cam mechanismto operate said holders synchronously with the stripper, abottom-applying holder, and power devices, substantially as set out, tomove the bottom-applying holder to or from the tube-former, and timingmechanism to operate said stripper, holders, and bottomapplying holdersimultaneously.

1G. The combination of the rotating former B, stripper J, holders D D,bottom-applying holder S, having rack s', segment F, and eccentric G,whereby said bottom-applying holder is moved to and from said holders DD.

17. The combination of the rotating former B, stripper J, holders D D,bottom-applying holder S, having rack s, segment F, and eccentric G,plungers S2, connecting-arm S3, and lever D2, whereby saidbottom-applying holder and plunger are operated synchronously.

18. The combination of the rotating former B, stripper J, holders D D,bottom-applying holder S, plungers S2, bottom-feeding tube T, stop t,rod T2, connection T2 between said rod T2 and plunger S2, and powermechanism, substantially as described, to operate said bottom-applyingholder, plunger, and stop synchronously.

19. The combination of the rotating tubeformer B, staple-formers r2,hammers r, cams R and R2, connected together, ratchet W, connected withsaid cams, and power mechanism, substantially as described, to operatesaid ratchet and cams. I

20. The combination of a rotary tube-former for forming a tube orcylinder of card-board, stapling mechanism for stapling` the lappededges of said card-board tube, a stripper to push the stapled tube fromthe tube-former, and wire-feeding wheels operated by said stripper tofeed the wire under the stapling mechanism.

21. The combination of the rotary tube- 'former B, stapling mechanism R,stripper J,

wire-feeding wheels Y Y and Y Y, guide-rods j, links Y ratchets y,carried by said Wheels Y, link Y2, slide J4, and connecting-link YS. Intestimony of which invention I hereunto set my hand.

MARTIN E. BRIGHAM.

Witnesses:

ERNEST HOWARD HUNTER, E. M. BRECKINREED.

